Machine tying of hams and the like



Sept. 19, 1944. B, H, MN 2,358,685

MACHINE TYING OF HAMS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 5, 1941 v 4 Sheets-Sheet l 'Sept. 19, 1944. B. H. BUNN momma 'mm orrmms AND THE, LIKE 7 Filed m6. 5, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 19, 1944. B. H. BUNN 'MACHINE'TYING 0F H AMS AND THE LIKE Filed De c. 5, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet} Sept. 19, 1944.

H. BUNN MACHINE TYING 0F HAMS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 5, 1941 Patented se sis, 1944 MACHINE TYING OF HAMS Benjamin H. Bunn, Chicago, 111., assignor tdB. H.

Bunn Company, Chicago, ]ll., a corporation of i Illinois Y Application December 5, 1941; Serial No. 421,735 12 IGlaims. (o1. rte- 3o My invention relates to machine tying of hams or the like. 1

i In the conventional hand tying of hams, the

twine is so wrapped around the ham as to provide two longitudinally spaced transverse wrap and a longitudinal wrap, with the ends of thetwine knotted together. One' of the transverse wraps encircles the ham at'or adjoining the bulge or maximum circumference of its large or butt end, and the other-transverse wrap encircles therelatively small shank a short distance fromitsend.

Despite the manifold advantages of time saving and uniformity usually resulting from machine tying, the'machine tyinglof hams hasnot heretofore beencommercially practicable. With P 1 Bymy invention I have provided a method or technique for tying a ham upon such a tying machine which avoids these complications and renders it entirely feasible for commercial use.

package tying machines which are in the-most 1 I widespread use, being of the type disclosed inmy patents, Nos."1,606,290 of November 9,19%; and 1,994,453 of March 19, 1935, no satisfactory tech:- nique has been found which would overcome the difi'iculties of maneuvering the ham through its several positions for wraps to avoid some seemingly inherent complications. One complication was 'thatsobulky an article hasinterfered with the twine wrapping mechanism ofv a. tying machine of moderate capacity. Another; complication was the securing of a desired spacingbetween. the transverse wrapswithouteither objec- .tionably shifting a wrap conce-laid-or pulling the anchored end of the twine .out of a the twine cat cher. A third complication arose from the-es.-

sential structure of a tying machine of the type indicated.- There the table is in ,two parts a fixedpart and an islandTpart spaced fromthe fixed part by a gap through whichthe twine passes in the course of the wrapping, The island portion is suspended by a pivotal mounting concentric with the axis of the rotating; twine arm. The knotter is beneath the dividing; gap: be-

tween the two parts of the table but instead of being beneath the axis of the pivotal support for the island table, it is horizontally shifted some distance from such a position. ,;Thethird resulting objection to tying hams on such a' machine has been that the weight of the heavy end; of: the

ham has, in aligning it with the;knotter, rested upon the fisland table at a considerable distance out from a position beneathits pivotal axis,

thereby throwingan excessiverstrain upon the .puts the island table under such an acutely balanced strain'so as to retard,if not defeat, the passage of the twine on the, under side of the plane of the table, past the twine trap or whatever equivalent device was employed. 2

'island table and its distant mounting. f It also By my new method there is a minimumtendency for a displacement'of the wraps even though with machine-tying, unlike handtying, there is no concatenation of crossing wraps on one side of-the ham.

Myin

phases, for the machinetyingof elongated arti- 'cles ofimore symmetrical form, such as bacon ,slabs where the tying is to include two longitu dinally spaced. transverse'wraps and a longitudinal-w'rap, with a'single knotting of the twine."

. Another feature of my invention is an improvementin a tying'machine of the type mentioned rendering it more suitable for the tying of articles where the' twine is to form. two longitudinally spaced transverse wraps and a longitudinal wrap, with a single knot. l i? Another feature of myinvention is an improved twinei trap whereby the twine in the lower'reach of-its revolution', in being passed about the article or" "bundle as a- -w'rap, may pass the abutments which hold the pivotall'y suspended or island portion of the table against rotation} One advantage-of- 'myimproved' 'twine trap is that the islan tame-may more firmly be held against swinging 'movement by virtue of a positive stop which is maintained at all times, even during the passagefof the twine. Another advantage is that the actuationof the'twinetrapis not effected by the'twinejitself, and therefore does not put any "armand its drive mechanism.

. An extremely simple but efiective brake is provided to'arrestthe moti'onofthe various parts in proper positionjif'the drive jisreleasedat an intermediate stage of anf operating cycle, the brake, howeve bein a a ted t ip t e parts to continue-theircoursesfthroughout an entire cycle ii t,he dl' '1ye"is,notreleased; j V

"Referring to the drawings, of which there are four sheets}, j 1' Fig} 1 .isaviewrm ch "e'jernbodying, my

is ctive of a tying mav Lthje embodiment oi invention; g 2 is a vertical fragmentaryxse ctional view in 'a plane parallelto the plane of the wrap e ztw n i ii i i by ihefmah t eza fb indiapa .aeetsa d zplanepa s hrmi m h u sm f -a. u c .memb r as. tavou d ap l ok ention is also applicable, in its broader I strain on the twine or on, the twine I I I nt inventio'ng the View; I v bem ffrorrii'therean and. slightly to-one side to toward the right from the position illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic illustrations which show, respectively, the method of application of the first, second, and third or final wraps of twine about a ham as performed on the machine illustrated;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken as on a plane through the cam block of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1, and shows a butterfly twine-trap for anchoring an island table against rocking motion;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section'taken on the plane of the line -88 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is an inverted plan view-of the wrapped:

ham showing the relation of the twine .thereon. Referring to the drawings in detail, a main frame H-is supported ona basev with -.latera1ly extending portions.l2 and 13 to .provide a-:wide stable support; for the machine; the outer ends of the base portions beingprovided with'swiveled casters l4. V r j The frame I I is tilted toward the side ODDOsite to that whereinthe knotting mechanism, indicated generally by the numeral l5 in Fig.2, :is

located. This tilting of the frame permits the twine arm'to haveawider sweep whilestill maintaining its proper relation to the knotterkand permits the use of a considerably :larger package supporting surface ,without increasing the height of the pivotalgmountingof the:.twine.arm.il:An additional advantage in :this construction 1lies;in the fact that it positions; the knotter.to;one:-side of the pivotal axis of a ,pivotally-suspended table 36 which, as is explained fullyiater. in this;specification, :provides maximum facility, :and'a lack.;of

undue strain .on the'partsof the=machine,.:i n wrapping a ham or the like. 7 w

The principal features of the twine wrapping and kno-tting mechanism of the illustrated :machine in general may; be similar-tothecorree spondingparts on t e tyingimachines disclosed n my pa nt s- 06,: .90 ;and1.999153. T avoid needlessly complicating the present case, therefore; the reader is referred to thosepatents for an understanding of the structure and-pperation of these mechanisms. which include ,the electric motor, the clutch, clutch shaft pin;ion,

mutilated gear, drive'gearing tothe-twine arm, I

the twine arm and the knotti ng mechanism and its means andmethodiof operation; These parts 'releas'ablef clutch engagement with'ithe' shaft 19 'J'ournaled "in the :"frame.

The clutch shaft [9 has a pinion keyed thereto which ism-constant meshed engagement'with ;a partially mutilated gear 20-which-isin'intermittent toothed engagement with atwine-arm drive gear 23; The twine arm" drive-gear has driving-connection with the copending application Serial No. 430,253, filed February 10, 1942, the gear ratio between the mutilated gear 20 and the twine arm 24 preferably being such that for each complete single revolution of the mutilated gear, the twine arm 24 will be rotated three complete revolutions.

The cam block 25 is keyed to the same shaft as the mutilated gear 20, and a complete revolution'of the cam block'constitutes a cycle of operation of the machine. Such cycle may terminate with the automatic knotting of the twine, "severing the twine between the knotter beak and "the twine catcher, and withdrawing the reach of' twine between the package and the twine .fcatcherfrom the twine catcher to free the package m removal.

A brake 26 is'illustrated in Fig. 1 to engage "the twine arm. 24 on the completion of each wrapping operation. This brake comprises a relatively heavy strip 29 of sheet steel, bent transversely at its center at an angle slightly less than ninety degrees, and secured, as by bolts 28, tothe, frame H, with one leg thereof upright, and the upper portion projecting-outwardly. The upper portion is bowed concavely to its upper surface, and a strap 27 which may be of leather is securedzasby rivets 30 to subtend the arc of the concave portion of the strip 29, the strap 21 being held :in tension by the metal band. The

strapds positioned to engage the twine arm frictionally at the'end of each rotation thereon-beingpositioned substantiallytangentially to the orbit'of thextwinezarm. Theidegreeof friction may be'adjusted by, bending the metal 'of the strip 29 up or;down for. causing the-strap 21 toengage the :twine' arm with greater or less frictional effect as irequirecl. This brake has provedntoabe extremely effective .in preventing overrun of: the twine. arm and in bringingthe :parts properly to' rest, particularly: at the .end of the first and second wraps when theknotter mechanismis not operated, at which timethere is little resistance to the operation of the parts and their inertia otherwise might cause objec- -tionable.overrun.

An island table support member 33 is journaled on, the hub of the twine wrapping.arm-.124 to permit freerelative rotation of -thewrapping 'arm with respect to the island table support qmember 33. A pairof "table support :brackets 34 and 35 are secured to the member 33 to depend verti'ca'lly therefrom, extending down below the level of atable top member 36, which may be of sheet metal, the bracket members there being bent upwardly and extending along the under side of the table top member to comprise a support therefor. V I" -plate;31 of relatively-heavy sheet metal, which may be 'steel of approximately 14 U. S. gauge, is secured to the frontfacesof the bracket members 3 4 and 35' and extendsf'downwardly to the level of thetable top memberlifi where it is bent at right angles and extends horizontally along the under surface of the table top member 36 to comprise a support therefor; 'As is apparent from the illustration inFig. 1, the center of gravity of this-island table structure is well below its point'of' pivotal support on -the hub of the twine arm 24 but in order to prevent displacement-or rocking of the tablelas may occur in "the handling of heavy packages such as hams twinearm24 substantially as*illustrated-in-my 7 8 thereon, the table is anchored'ito the frame by means ofa twine trap illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 7 and' 8. "i I. a

This twine trap -.comprises in general three a and the twine major parts, namely, (1) a channeled member 38 secured tothe under side of the tabletop 36 with a channel 39 therein facing toward the plane of the wrapof twine during a-wrapping operation, (2) a butterfly anchoring member 40 having its two wing portions 43 and 44 adapted alternately, and witha slight overlap, .to enter. the channel member to secure it against lateral movement, and (3) acam actuated lever 45 adapted'to rock the butterfly member back and forth at required points in'the cycle'of operation to receive and pass the twine as it is carried around a package during awrapping operation.

The channel member 38 for receiving the wings c of the butterfly member (see Figs. 1 and 2) is mounted with its channel in a plane parallel to the sides of the-tilted frame II by means of a castmetal bracket 46 securedto the underside of the table top member 36. I The butterfly trap 'member 40 is pivotally mounted on a stud '48 threaded into a boss 49 on the frame I I. The wings 43 and 44 of the butterfly anchor member are adapted alternately to enter and leave the channel 39, as the butterfly member is rocked back and forth by the lever 45 anda coil spring 61. The wings are separated by a notch56 of a size to free each ofthe wings from the channel when the other is inserted therein, the notch being of such arcuate dimension, however, as to permit one of the wings to enter slightly before the other leaves the channel.

A notch 53 on the opposite side of the butterfly anchor member from the notch 56 is adapted to receive an arm 54 of the camoperated bell crank .in a. raised position, thereby moving the butterfly,

member pivotally to the solid line position illustrated in Fig. 8. This operation moves the lower wing 44 clear of the channel member 38 and permits the reach of twine 60 to pass upwardly into the trap from the open lower end thereof.

Asthe cam roller 59 passes ontoa'low portion -63 of the cam between any-two of the three step portions 64, 65 and 66 of the cam, a coil spring '61, held in, tension between the butterfly member and the frame I I, moves the butterfly member pivotally in a clockwise direction to the dotted line position of Fig. 8, thereby freeing the upper wing 43 from the channel and releasing the twine for. passage upwardly from the trapped position illustrated in Fig. 8.

, The cam steps 64, 65-and 66 are arranged on the cam block 25 so as to move the butterfly member from the solid to the dotted line position .of Fig. 8 approximately at the moment the twine .armrbegins a wrapping operation. It-will -'be noted in Fig. 1 that the butterfly member 46 is in-the dotted line position of Fig. 8 which indicates that with/the icams set as in the present illustrated embodiment. of the invention, the wrapping arm has startedits wrapping'operation,

therefore is released-for the upward movementrequired'in .a wrapping operatiOn.

The cam step 66, it will'be noted .in Fig.7, is

flonger thanthe other two cam steps. The reason for. this increased length. of the third and last cam 'step.66.is to maintain thebutterfly member 3 in .the solid line 'position of Fig. 8 during the last or thirdrevolution of the twine arm 24, and also during 'the'knotting operation .which follows. It will be noted-in Figs. 1 and 2 that the'cam block 25 has three radially disposed cam members 68, 69 andlll projecting laterally-from a side face thereof. These 'cam' members are similar to v the members I68 and N l08. of my PatentNo. 1,994,453; and function. in a generally similar manner to' engage, at successive "intervals throughout the rotative cycle' of the cam block 25,='a'; |clutch 'operating'link "H torelease the clutch. Z

The clutch operating link as illustrated in-Figs. 1, 2 and '3, is connected to 'one arm of a bell crank 'lever 72', pivoted in the frame ll, theother end of the bell crank lever'being connected by means 'of'a link 15 to a foot treadlelfi A coil spring TI retained in tension between the frame I I and an armof the bell cranklever l2 normally holds the treadle in a raised inoperative position which forces the link II to the position of Fig. 3 to move the clutch operating arm 18 to its inoperative or releasing position when the link H is engaged by oneof the-cammembersfiil, 69'or-1 i The cams 68, 69 and"!!! are located on the side of the cam'block 25 so as to operate the clutch arm 18 to release the clutch upon completion of each of the first two complete revolutions of the twine arm 24, and also upon completion of the third revolution of the twine arm followedby the operation of the knotting and severing mechanism. It will be noted in this'connection that the distance'between the cam members 69' and 10 in the direction of rotation of the cam (see-Fig.2), i considerably greater than such distances between the cam 10 and 68 and the" cams esanaes. v

The reason for this difference in angular spacing of these cam members is, ofcour'se, due to the fact that the knotting operation occurs after the conipletion of the third revolution of the twine arm.

During this additional pivotal movement or the cam blo ck25, the twine arm drive gear 23 is over the mutilated or untoothed portion of the'mutilated gear 20 so thatno rotative movement'of the't'wine arm occurs during this additional pivotal movement of the cam block. v f

" The method'of wrapping a barn with twine by my improved machine-is illustrated in Figs. 4,5

and 6. 'It will 'be'understood bythose familiar with. the art that the ham initially maybe Wrapped with'paper, cloth or the like, before wrapping with twine. Since i such preliminary step iswell known to the art; the present-specification will not be burdened with a description thereof. Sufficeiit to say that the ham maybe j preliminarily wrapped with a suitabl covering, .if desired.

The initial positioning of the ham on thieitable and the method of turnin 'the ham between successive wraps .Of twin is important, in factfessential, to the successful accomplishment of my method. A ham 19 is positioned initially as illustrated in Fig. 4 with its large orbutt end on the island table 36, with the shank .end ofthe, ham

inthe plane of the desired initial wrap off twine.

The ham is located onthe tables so that the shank is to the left (as illustrated, in Fig; 4), from the knotting beak a distance slightly greater than the distancedesired between the two transverse wraps of twine. This location of the hambrings ;its heavy butt end onto the. tilting island table be hiis axis. o PiY9la l P9 W1t PE$ 3 .position oimaximumstability. ;Since'.most;hams :have. one .sidelwhich isslightly concav -'whilethe tside-opposite..thereto is straight,;or. convex, it is ;preferable..to.position. the ham .withzthenoncave side down .for...the. initial :wrap. so: that thesubsequent crossing of the ends;of.this;initial wrap :will. secure. the longitudinal wrap. against. lateral :displacement in subsequent handlingwofjthe ham. .Theitreadle 16 then. is .depressed bythe operator .and;.the initial wrap. 83 .of twin i carried-around zthershank of the ham as illustrated in Fig.- 4.

V :The ham then, is turned totherightthroughan :angle of ninety;d'egr.ees about avertical. axis subsstantially through the. center, of-the initial-wrap 83, the ham being turned clockwise to crossthe ,ends of the wrap of twine, thus bringing the ham 'like. .The butterfly: trap arrangement :provides .a secure. anchorageficr -the;island table without interference :with the travel of the twine; during a wrapping operatioaandpennits the wrapping pflarge'and smallpackages without change or jadjustment 0f the;mechanism.

' In case it is desired to 1 -wrap. -a.-package with but two: wraps f twine, thetreadlegmay be depressed permitting, the :twine arm to rotate 10 through one revolution before inserting the package. This actiomdoes:not'withdraw any twine and leaves thetwine :arm and other parts; with the; exception of: the :camblock, in their original positions. -The-cam' block; however, is rotated throughits first cycle of operation so that the ;to;the positionillustrated-in ,Fig. v5. It will be Y a-notedat this stage that the initial positioning of theham hasaccomplished a further advantage inpreventing the ham when thus turned from projectin out into the path of the twine arm in passing the twine around the ham longitudinally thereof.

It is important during this and the subsequent .turning movement of th ham that the ham be notshifted laterally, with respect to the axis of the twine arm, since, if the ham ,ismoved away from the knotter the twine end will be pulled loose vfrom. the twine catcher-B6 which will mak it im- -'Ihus turning th ham ninety degrees brings the longitudinal center plane -84 of the ham in the plane of the wrap of the machineand brings the transverse butt plane of the ham, where thethird andfinal wrap 85 of twine will subsequently come,

slightly to the left of the knotter beakas can-be seen from Fig. 5. V The treadle I6 is again depressed topass the second wrap 84 of twine around the: ham lengthwise thereof as illustrated in Fig. 5.

. The ham is then-again turned ninety degrees in .,a; clockwise direction to the position illustratedin Fig.6, the axis of turning movement preferably being the'line of intersection of the plane of the .secondwrap 84 and the desired plane of the third .wrapas-indicated, by the wrap line 85 inFigFG.

possible to complete-the wrapping :and. tyingop- .-erations, while if the ham is shifted toward the ;-knotterit will-produce objectionable slack in the preach of twin from the twine catcher totheham.

-matically performed and thetwine severed and 7 .,released from the twin catcherBGin the manner described in myprior Patent Nfo; 1,606,290.

While my present ,invention is particularly adapted for the tyingof hams, it may, nevertheless, be used for the tying-of numerous other types oi packages. Since the packers of ham also customarily are packers of bacon, it is an important considerationthat the mechanism of the. present inventioncalso is especiallylwell adapted forithe tying of slabs of bacon. -.The.provisi0 n. of.th large tablemakes it easy tohandle the sides of bacon in manipulating them for the performance ofjthe and are performed in the samesequenceas those forthe tying ofhams j 1.

In addition to being adapted forlthe tyingiof hams and bacons; the present machine "alsois miscellaneous packages of various "sizes and .shapes, some of which ;may:be-compara ively heavy. J'For these reasons the machineembody- ,,in gthe, present invention is welladapted for 'use by mail order houses, 'department stores andthe .well adapted for the tying of large numbers'of o :age, the treadle may be depressed and helddown to.-permit the-twine-arm to travel through two complete revolutions -:-before insertingthe package, whereupon, afterthe'package is inserted, the knotting operation will be performed upon the completion. of a single wrap of twine around the package, this being the third revolution'of the twinearmin its cycle ofthree. It will thus be seenthat either one, two .or three wraps of twine may be -made around rarpackage with the wraps arranged in various. manners to suit the requirements of the operator or' the shape and size of the package being'wrapped.

While I have illustratedq-a-preferred embodi- -ment of my invention, many modificationsmay be made without 'departing from'the spirit of .theinvention, and I do not :wish to'belimited to the precise details of construction set forth," but desire to availmyself of all-changes within the scope of the appended claims.

*I-claim: 1. The-method of Wrapping a ham in a package tyingmachine having a fixed knotting zone and a three-wrap fixed orbital twine cycle, which comprisesyinserting the shank of aham into the orbit of the twine wrap in laterally oifset posi- -.tion from thekn'otting zone, passing a single wrap of twine about-theham shank, stopping the :twine motion, turning the'ha'm about the ver- -tical- ,median line of the wrap as-an axis through anangleofninety degrees to cross and interlock the terminalrportions of the twine wrap and carry the ham butt above 'the knotting zone, passing atsecond wrap of twine about the longitudinal median vertical plane of the ham, stopping the 5 twine motion, turning 'the' hamsimilarly to the firSt tur-ning about the "juncture of the vertical plane ofthe secondwrapand the desired vertical plane-of'athircl wrap as an axis extending through-the knotting-zone, passing a third wrap of twine about the ham, and knotting the ends of the-twine together to secure'the three wraps of twine in position. The method ofwrappinga-ham in a package ,ty-ing machine having a fixed knotting zone and tying operations, which general are similar )5 'a'three-Wrapfixedprbitaltwine cycle Which mprisesinsertingthe shank of a'ham into the orbit of the-twine wrap inlaterally offset position from ythe knotting zone,--passing:a wrap of twine about {the ham shank to define a plane, turning the ham-through an angle ofninety degrees about the intersection of thekplane of the firstwrap andithe plane-of a de'sired'second wrap as an axis to swing the ham butt into overlying relation rto'J-thelknotting zone I and cross the terminal 7 5 zreachesaof twinecomprising the wrap, passing a continuation of one of said terminal reaches as a second wrap of twine longitudinally about the ham in the desired second plane, again turning the ham through an angle of ninety degrees about the intersection of the plane of the second wrap and the plane of a desired'third Wrap as an axis to cross the terminal reaches of the twine, passing a further continuation of said oneof said terminal reaches as a third wrap of .twine about the ham butt in the desired third plane, and knotting the terminal reaches of the twine com prising the third wrap to'secure the three wraps of twine in position in their desired planes.

' -3. A method of tying hams on a tying machine having a fixed table and a pivoted island table separated by a twine gap and in which the knotter is offset horizontally from the axis of the pivotal support of the island table; which method consists in placing the ham with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to and close to the vertical'plane of the pivoted island-table 'support, with the shank of the ham overlying the twine gap, and the butt end thereof on the island table close to the vertical plane of the pivotal axis of the island table and'makin'g an initial wrap of twine about the shank, swinging the ham to cross the twine ends of the wrap and to bring the longitudinal axis of the ham over the twine gap with the butt end of the ham substantially over'the knotter, making a second wrap oftwine about the longitudinal axis of the ham, and again swinging the ham to cross the twine ends of the longitudinal wrap while retaining the butt of the ham substantially over the'knotter to be at least partly supported by then fixed table with the small shank end of the ham onthe island table horizontally spaced from the verticalfplane of the pivotal axis of the island table for the final wrap and terminal knotting of the twine.

4. In a ham tying machine having a fixed table and a suspended island table, a pivoted wrapping member mounted adjacent the island table and having the island table suspended coaxially therewith, a twine trap mounted to operate between the island table and the fixed table, said twine trap comprising a recessed member carried by the island table, said recessed member having a recess therein facing the fixed table, a pair of projectable elements carried by the fixed table, and adapted alternately to enter the recess in the recessed member at different successive points in the twine wrapping operation to anchor the island table against pivotal movement, and cam operated means coordinatedwith the wrapping member and operatively associated with the projectable elements, initially to withdraw one of said elements from the recess and insert the second of said elements into the recess at a point in the twine wrapping operation when the reach of twine passes said one element, and sequentially to restore said one element and withdraw the second element as the reach of twine passes the second element.

5. In a package wrapping and tying machine having a wrapping arm, a fixed table, an island table pivoted within the orbit of the wrappingother of said locking members is in looking posi-' i 6 In a package wrapping and tying machinev having a wrapping arm adapted to carry a reach of twine around a package, a fixed table, an island table pivoted within the orbitLof the wrapping arm, and cam controlled" means associated with the wrapping arm; table anchoring means ex-' tending into the path of a reach of twine during a-wrapping operation, said v anchoring means comprising a channeled'member mounted on the island table with the channel thereof toward the fixed table, a tilting anchor member pivoted with respect to the fixedtable and having a pair of extensions alternately insertableiinto said channel to interlock said fixed and said tilting table, and camcontrolled means operatively associated with said wrapping arm cam controlled means to remove alternately'first one and then the other of said extensions from the channeled member at a predetermined stage of the operation of the wrapping arm, to receive and pass a reach of twinefcarried' by the wrapping arm.

7, 'In a package w'rapping and tying machine having a wrappingfarm adapted to carry a reach of twine around a package, a fixed table, an island table pivoted within the orbit of the wrapping arm, and cam controlled means associated with the wrapping arm table anchorage meansextending intothe path of a reach of twine during a] wrapping operation, said anchoring means comprising a channeled member mounted on the island table with the axis of the channel thereof extending vertically and facing toward the fixed table, a butterfly anchoring member pivoted to the fixed table in a generally upright plane and having the wings thereof adapted alternately to enter the channel of said channeled member to interlock said tables, and cam controlled means operatively associated with said wrapping arm cam controlled means to move said butterfly member pivotally to remove alternately first one, then the other of said wings from said channeled member at a predetermined stage of the operation of the Wrapping arm to receive and pass a reach of twine carried by the wrapping arm.

8. In a package wrapping and tying machine having means for passing a reach of twine around a package, a fixed table, an island table pivotally supported adjacent the fixed table and separated therefrom by a space in which the twine passes during a wrapping operation, table anchoring means extending from the fixed table to the pivotally supported island table in the path of the twine during a wrapping operation, and actuating means operatively associated with the twine wrapping means and with the anchoring means alternately to withdraw and restore first one then another portion of the anchoring means from its anchoring position to pass the twine without releasing anchoring engagement.

9. The method of tying aham which consists in placing the ham horizontally with its axis perpendicular to a vertical wrapping plane and with the plane intersecting the shank end of the ham, while maintaining the ham in that position, placing a reach of twine transversely about the shank in said wrapping plane, then horizontally swinging theham about the region, of the wrapped shank as apivot tolbring. the longit'ue dinal axis of the ham into the, wrapping plane then placing a continuing reach of the twinelo'n: gitudinally. about the ham in the wrapping plane; thereafter horizontally swinging the ham about the buttas apivot in the same direction as the first mentioned swinging to a final tying position perpendicular .to thewrapping planev andwith the shank extending in a direction opposite from its direction in the'ifirst mentioned position, and in the final tying position placing a, continuing reach of the twine transversely about the butt of the ham in said wrapping 'plane, and then, also in the finaltying position, knotting the ends of the twine together at the bottom of the butt and substantially in the wrapping plane.

10. Ina package wrapping and tying machine having means for passing a reach of twine around a package,a. fixed table, an island table pivotally supported adjacent the fixed table and separated therefrom by a space in which the. twine passes during, a wrapping operation, means for anchoring the. island, table relative to the fixed table and extending from. one tothe other of the tables across said space in the path of the twine during a. wrappingoperation, said anchoring means having two tableanchoring relationships, and actuating means operatively associatedwith the twine wrapping means and with the anchoring means for, actuating the anchoringv means from one to the other of said table anchoring relationships in timed relation to operation of. the twine wrapping means to pass the twine without. releasing the island table from its anchored condition.

11,. In a packageiwrapping and tying machine haying means for passing areach of twine around a package, a fixed tableyan island table pivotally supported, adjacent the fixedtable and separated aaaag s therefrom by a space in which the twine passes during a wrapping operation, table anchoring mechanism comprising a member fixed to oneof the tables, and. a member mounted in association with. the other table for cyclical movement relative. to the fixed member but having continuous anchoring inter-relationship 1 therewith, said pive otallyi mounted 'member extending across said space intothe path oi the twine duringawrapping operation, andactuating means operatively a'ssociatedwith the twine wrapping means and with said pivotally mounted anchoring member 'for actuating thelatter in timed relation to opere atioh'j of the wrapping means for passing the twine-during a Wrapping operation without releasingthe island-table from its anchored contiO 7 12. The. method of wrapping-- a, package which consists, inanchoring twine whereby the twine may be wrappedina wrapping plane contiguous totherpointof anchoring, locating one end of the package in said plane at a position remote iromethe pointof anchoring, wrapping the twine in. said plane around' said end of the package, rotating the package around approximately a rightangle ina direction to cross. the ends of thewrapandtolocate the length ofthe package in thewrapping plane with its other end adjacent thepoint of anchorage, wrappingthet-wine in-said plane around the package lengthwise thereof, rotating the package through approximately a right angle-to cross the ends of the longitudinal wrap and'to 'locate said other end of the. package insaid plane and adjacent the point of anchorage, wrapping: the'twine in said plane around. said; otherendi of the package and securing the free-endpf thelast wrap to the anchored end the; twine;

BENJAMIN H. BUNN. 

